Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dharan Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Dharan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $333 in Dharan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $554 in Dharan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $776 in Dharan, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 326% more than Dharan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Dharan is 75% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 63.9K

$2.24 NPR 343

58.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 586.8K

$18.66 NPR 2,854

75.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 88.7K

$6.62 NPR 1,012

-25.23%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.6K

$1.81 NPR 276

49.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

$0.35 NPR 53.8

282.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.5K

$0.16 NPR 24.84

337.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.3K

$2.62 NPR 401

11.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 70.9K

$3.56 NPR 544

11.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.72 NPR 109

151.39%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$0.35 NPR 53.1

620.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.8K

$0.72 NPR 109

61.11%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.1K

$1.54 NPR 236

59.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 263.7K

$7.55 NPR 1,155

94.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.4K

$2.87 NPR 439

50.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 217.5K

$5.25 NPR 803

131.24%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 68.8K

$1.96 NPR 300

95.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.57 NPR 87.2

173.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.8K

$0.64 NPR 97.5

342.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

$0.38 NPR 58.3

513.16%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

$0.28 NPR 42.45

582.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$0.49 NPR 74.2

348.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.2K

$0.53 NPR 80.9

90.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.21 NPR 32.35

271.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$2.97 NPR 455

11.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 425.5K

$2.93 NPR 448

710.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

$2.34 NPR 357

19.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.3K

$3.36 NPR 514

-14.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,819

$0.19 NPR 29.71

42.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 143.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,181

$2.21 NPR 338

-79.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,068

$0.80 NPR 123

-43.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.3K

$3.69 NPR 565

65.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

$1.32 NPR 202

-40.15%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 468.8M

$32.4K NPR 5.0M

-19.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 575.8M

$40.8K NPR 6.2M

-21.19%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$27.04 NPR 4,136

195.64%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 72.9K

$4.90 NPR 750

-17.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 421.6K

$11.45 NPR 1,752

105.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$12.88 NPR 1,970

666.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 118.8K

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.3K

$2.88 NPR 440

44.10%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.4M

$21.79 NPR 3,333

1294.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 118.5M

$2,694 NPR 412.0K

145.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 995.6K

$12.66 NPR 1,936

338.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 686.7K

$27.14 NPR 4,151

41.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$29.17 NPR 4,462

203.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$33.40 NPR 5,108

133.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.0M

$39.47 NPR 6,036

2449.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.1M

$20.34 NPR 3,111

3220.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 61.7M

$88.6 NPR 13.5K

3786.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.6M

$54.1 NPR 8,281

3666.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 50.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$184 NPR 28.2K

-10.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

12.08

9.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Dharan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $39.47 in Dharan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Dharan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $19.00 in Dharan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $302 vs $121 – making Dharan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ubud, Bali vs Dharan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 326% more than Dharan, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $499 in Dharan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dharan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $19.00 in Dharan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 150% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dharan, where all-in costs run around $333, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Dharan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dharan costs $333 versus $1,419 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Dharan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.